What to say?
That I can't get over how much I am enjoying this summer at home, whether it's watering my geraniums in my pyjamas, bike riding up the Monsal Trail, plotting my new book in the steamer chair while drinking in my front garden and the fields beyond, or playing al fresco table tennis with Dave in the late afternoon.
Or should I tell you how heartwarming it was when someone I have never met and don't know tweeted this about BUT I TOLD YOU LAST YEAR THAT I LOVED YOU:
And then there was the lovely unknown reader defending PLOTTING FOR GROWN-UPS on Amazon against a sorry person who, because she didn't like all the local references in the book said that my next book should be a tourist information book. Between you and me, that review has long bugged me, but obviously it's infra dig for an author to join the fray and say - 'Look, if a novelist can mention the London Eye, Highgate cemetery, or Camden tube station in a novel why can't I mention Hassop Station, the Heights of Abraham or the Maazi restaurant in Matlock? A novel has to be set somewhere!'
Fortunately other readers agree with me. Here is another recent cheering tweet from someone I don't know:
So there you have it. It's a warm Monday morning and it's raining and I'm pleased, because it cuts down my options. I have a lot of jobs to do inside and this morning's task is to get on with the work-in-progress. Have a good week!
Aw, this is lovely to read - I'm touched that my Tweet meant so much. I could relate to so much of that book, not least the local references as I live in Derbyshire; it makes a refreshing change to read about somewhere you can picture. Also, we definitely haven't met but we may possibly have spoken on the phone as I remember writing an article for the Derby Telegraph about your first book. It was a long time ago though, and I can't remember if I interviewed you or your co-author Jane Linfoot; it may even have been done over email. Keep the Derbyshire-based novels coming please :)
ReplyDeleteHi Helen, your tweet did mean a lot. It's nice to hear that anyone enjoys one of my books but if it is someone I have not met it means even more.
ReplyDeleteIt will have been me you interviewed. Jane was shy and retiring in those days.
The new book is also set in Derbyshire, you'll be pleased to hear.
I'll let you know when it's available.